Galileo
A Very Short Introduction
Published on 22. February 2001
Book
Paperback/Softback
160 pages
978-0-19-285456-8 (ISBN)
Description
In a startling reinterpretation of the evidence, Stillman Drake advances the hypothesis that Galileo's trial and condemnation by the Inquisition was caused not by his defiance of the Church, but by the hostility of contemporary philosophers.
Galileo's own beautifully lucid arguments are used to show how his scientific method was utterly divorced from the Aristotelian approach to physics in that it was based on a search not for causes but for laws. Galileo's method was of overwhelming significance for the development of modern physics, and led to a final parting of the ways between science and philosophy.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Galileo's own beautifully lucid arguments are used to show how his scientific method was utterly divorced from the Aristotelian approach to physics in that it was based on a search not for causes but for laws. Galileo's method was of overwhelming significance for the development of modern physics, and led to a final parting of the ways between science and philosophy.
ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Reviews / Votes
stimulating and very convincing. * Theology *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Illustrations
halftones and drawings
Dimensions
Height: 178 mm
Width: 114 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
118 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-285456-8 (9780192854568)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Stillman Drake, FRSC, formerly Professor of the History of Science, University of Toronto, and author of Galileo: His Scientific Biography (1978). His translations of Galileo's scientific works include Cause, Experiment, and Science (1981) and Telescopes, Tides, and Tactics (1983).
Content
List of illustrations ; Introduction ; 1. The background ; 2. Galileo's early years ; 3. Conflicts with philosophers ; 4. Conflicts with astronomers and theologians ; 5. The Dialogue and the Inquisition ; 6. The final years ; Reading list ; Index